Erik SATIE
(1866 - 1925) Piano Music
- Volume 5 Prélude
en Tapisserie (1906) [3.08] Passacaille (1906)
[3.03] Douze petits chorals (1906) [13.26]
Deux rêveries nocturnes (1911) [4.06]
Nouvelles pièces froides (1907) [7.19]
Laes pantins dansent (1913) [2.14] Préludes
Flasques — pour un chien (1912) [5.28] Véritables
Préludes Flasques — pour un chien (1912)
[3.39] Rêverie de l’Enfance de Pantagruel
(1918) [2.11] Six Nocturnes (1920) [15.25]
Menuet à Claude Dubosq (1920) [2.53]
Steffen Schleiermacher, piano. 
Piano technician, Franz Schliederer Recorded
20 Nov 2002 at the Royal Ridingschool, Bad
Arolsen, Germany
Notes in English, Français and Deutsch.
Drawings and a painting of the composer.
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 613 1067-2
[64.56] [PSh]
Satie
fans must probably have this whole set, but
if you don’t quite get the joke yet, you should
stay with Satie’s more famous music. ... see
Full Review
Emil von SAUER
(1862-1942)
Suite
moderne (1899-1906?) [34’16]. Aus lichten
Tagen (date unknown) [11’26]. Drei
Konzertetüden (1910) [9’35]
Oleg Marshev (piano) Rec. Mantzius-Garden,
Birkerod, Denmark, February 2003. DDD
DANACORD DACOCD595 [61’25] [CC]
A
thoroughly enjoyable disc. Marshev’s flair
and seemingly limitless technique sees the
project through in high style. … see Full
Review
Domenico
SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Eighteen
Sonatas
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded in the Concert
Artist Studios June and September 1997
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD
9208-2 [73.41] [JW]
Scarlatti
playing - the product of practical application
and imagination. … see
Full Review
Domenico SCARLATTI
(1685-1757) Nineteen
Sonatas
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist
Studios, June and September 1997
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9209-2
[69.23] [JW]
A
persuasive and sensitive advocate; qualities
that are entirely and predictably consonant
with Hatto’s playing as a whole. … see Full
Review
Heinrich SCHEIDEMANN
(c1595-1663)
Organ Works, Vol. 4 Magnificat
1. toni [12:53] Benedicam Dominum (after Lassus)
[10:19] Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (III)
[03:44] Praeambulum in F [01:59] Canzona in
F [01:01] Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist
[01:53] Praeambulum in d minor [02:22] Mensch,
willst du leben seliglich [06:49] In dich
hab ich gehoffet, Herr (II) [06:20] Praeambulum
in g minor [03:19] O Gott, wir danken deiner
Güt [02:56] Herr Christ, der einig Gotts
Sohn (II) [04:55] De ore prudentis procedit
mel (after Lassus) Magnificat 5. toni [10:43]
Julia Brown, organ Recorded in September
1999 in the Central Lutheran Church, Eugene,
Oregon, USA
NAXOS 8.555876 [79:02] [JV]
Organ
music by one of the most important German
masters of the 17th century – well played
but not entirely satisfying ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Sinfonia
Varsovia/Yehudi Menuhin Symphony No. 1 in
D major, D.82 (1813) Symphony No. 4 in C minor,
D.417 ‘Tragic’ (1816) WARNER APEX
2564 60527-2 Symphony No. 2 in B flat
major, D.125 (1815) Symphony No. 6 in C major,
D.859 (1818) WARNER APEX 2564 60529-2 Symphony
No. 3 in D major, D.200 (1815) Symphony No.
5 in B flat major, D.485 (1816) Symphony No.
8 in B minor, D.759 ‘Unfinished’ (1822)
WARNER APEX 2564 60530-2 Symphony No.
9 in C major, D.944 ‘Great’ (1827)
WARNER APEX 2564 60531-2 Rec. 20–29
Jan 1997, Studio 1, Polish Radio, Warsaw Complete
Set 5CDs 2564605322
Yehudi
Menuhin’s close and stimulating relationship
with Sinfonia Varsovia reflected in this fine
cycle excellently played and recorded …Everything
sounds nicely in place, and there is atmosphere
as well as clarity. … see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797
- 1828) Symphony
no. 1 in D major, D 82, Symphony no. 2 in
B flat major, D 125, Symphony no. 8 in B minor,
D 759 "Unfinished"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham
Recorded Walthamstow Town Hall, December 1953
Symphony no. 1); May 28th 1954
(Symphony No. 2); Kingsway Hall, January 15th
and 24th, May 9th, July
11th, 12thand July 23rd
(Symphony No. 8) – May 9th session
at Studio No. 1 Abbey Road.
SONY CLASSICAL SMK87876 [77.31] [RH]
Welcome
reissue of Beecham’s sparkling late recordings
of the Schubert symphonies. … see Full
Review
Franz Peter
SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano
Works: Drei Klavierstücke, D946 (1828)
[32’04]. Piano Sonata in A, D664 (pre-1819)
[25’58]. Two Scherzos, D593 (1817) [10’23].
Allegretto in C minor, D915 (1827) [6’18].
Adagio in E, D612 (1818) [4’51].
Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano).Rec. Fürstliche
Reitbahn Bad Arolsen, Germany, February 10th-12th,
2003. DDD
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG343 1194-2
[79’59] [CC]
A
highly memorable recital … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 20 in A major D959 (1828) Three
Klavierstücke D946
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist
Studios, Cambridge, April 1990 and May 2000
Piano Works Volume 1
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9063-2
[69.51] [JW]
A
formidable technician whose senses of clarity
and form are salient features of a profound
musicality. … see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 16 in A minor D845 (1825) Piano
Sonata No. 19 in C minor D958 (1828)
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist
Studios, Cambridge, October 1998 Piano Works
Volume 2
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9064-2
[70.23] [JW]
Technique
and instincts formidable. Full of light she
avoids seeing Schubert through a glass, darkly.
… see Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 4 in A minor D537 (1817) Piano
Sonata No. 18 in G major D894 (1826)
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist
Studios, Cambridge, February 1999 and May
2000 Piano Works Volume 3
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9065-2
[69.58] [JW]
A
more briskly shaped determinism, more measured
and sanguine. The performances benefit from
the sympathetic acoustic – warm but not cloying
… see Full Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Piano
Sonata No. 13 in A major D664 (1819) Piano
Sonata No. 21 in B flat D960 (1828)
Joyce Hatto (piano) Recorded Concert Artist
Studios, Cambridge, April 2000 and January
1999 Piano Works Volume 4
CONCERT ARTIST/FIDELIO RECORDINGS CACD 9066-2
[63.04] [JW]
A
particularly fine example of Hatto’s Schubert.
It’s the disc that most impressed me of the
four so far issued in this series. … see Full
Review
Franz SCHUBERT
(1796-1828)
Overture
in F major, D.675 (1819) Fantasie in F minor,
D.940 (1828) German Dances, D.618 (1818) Variations,
D.968a (1818-24) Marches héroïques,
D.602 (1818-24)
Jenö Jandó and Zsuzsa Kollár
(piano) Recorded 1-4 April 1998, Phoenix Studio,
Budapest Piano Works for Four Hands, Volume
3
NAXOS 8.554513 [59.23] [TB]
Some
substantial masterworks but a good deal of
‘entertainment music’. This third volume offers
examples of each approach. … see Full
Review
Piano Concertos of the 1920s, Vol. 2 Erwin
SCHULHOFF (1893-1942)
Concerto
for Piano and small Orchestra (1923) [18:42]
George ANTHEIL
(1900-1959) A Jazz Symphony for Piano
and Orchestra (1927) [12:52] George
GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Concerto in
F for Piano and Orchestra (1925) [32:24] Michael
Rische (piano) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Wayne Marshall (Antheil, Gershwin)
West
German Radio Symphony Orchestra of Cologne
conducted by Gunther Schuller (Schulhoff)
Schulhoff concerto recorded Dec 15-17, 1993
at Cologne Philharmonic Hall Antheil and Gershwin
Concertos recorded Dec 2002 and Feb 2003,
Jesus-Christus Church, Berlin
ARTE NOVA CLASSICS 82876 [SA]
Panache
and commitment … fast and furious and full
of the brilliance … a thoroughly enjoyable
disc … see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810
- 1856) The Complete Piano
Works, Volume 9 Papillons,
Opus 2 Sonata Opus 118, No. 1 in G major Intermezzi,
Opus 4 Sonata Opus 118, No. 3 in C major
Franz Vorraber (piano) Recorded Frankfurt/Musikhochschule,
Kloster Kreuzberg. ‘Papillons’ recorded 28/1/2002;
all other items recorded live, 14/5/1999
THOROFON CTH 2521 [75.53] [RH]
A
slightly disappointing recital, containing
some of Schumann’s lesser known piano works.
… see Full
Review
Robert SCHUMANN
(1810-1856)
Piano Music Disc
1: Papillons, Op. 2 (1832) Davidsbündlertänze,
Op. 6 (1837) Waldszenen, Op. 82 (1848) Disc
2: Widmung, arr. Liszt (1848) Frühlingsnacht,
arr. Liszt (1872) Fantasiestücke, Op.
12 (1837) Arabeske, Op. 18 (1838) Kreisleriana,
Op. 16 (1838)
Leon McCawley, piano Recorded at St. George’s
Bristol, England, September 2003
AVIE 0029 [2CDs: 142:08] [DS]
I
give the Avie set a mild recommendation except
for those who want their Schumann textures
‘clean as a whistle’. … see Full
Review
Heinrich SCHÜTZ
(1585-1672)
Symphoniae Sacrae I, Symphoniae Sacrae
II, Weihnachtshistorie Anna
Mikolajczyk (soprano) Marzena Lubaszka (soprano)
Piotr Lykowski (alto) Krzysztof Szmyt (tenor/alto)
Robert Pozarski (tenor/alto) Harry van der
Kamp (bass) Bodgan Makal (bass) Walter Testolin
(bass) Gian Paolo Dal Dosso (bass)
Cappella Augustana Matteo Messori (organ
and direction)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92196 [5CDs: 51.46+48.32+56.17+49.16+66.01]
[GH]
A
welcome super-budget edition of Schütz’s
symphoniae sacrae which should tempt everyone
into exploring these lovely works. … see Full
Review
Déodat de
SEVERAC (1872
– 1921) Le
Chant de la terre (1900) En Languedoc (1903/4)
Las Naïades et le faune indiscret (1908)
Baigneuses au soleil (1908)
Izumi Tateno (piano) Recorded: Snellman
Hall, Kokkola, Finland, June 2001
WARNER APEX 2564 60625-2 [72:21] [HC]
Colourful,
harmonically subtle, clear and breathing some
healthy joie de vivre reflected in the use
of folk-inflected dance rhythms as well as
exulting in sunshine or meditating at sunset.
His music sings and shines … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975):
Symphony No 5 in D minor, Op. 47 [45’18"]
Alexander SCRIABIN
(1872-1915): The Poem of Ecstasy * [18’40"]
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Dimitri Mitropoulos
Recorded: 1 December 1952 and *20 March 1953
URANIA RM 11.908 [64’03"] [JQ]
If
you can take the sound there’s some remarkable
music making here. … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)Symphony
No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 (1937) [46’35]Symphony
No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 (1939) [30’55]
Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg
Caetani Live recs. From the Auditorium di
Milano, Italy in January 2001 (Symphony No.
5) and January 2002 (Symphony No. 6). DDD
ARTS 47668-2 [79’14] [CC]
Despite
some impressive moments, this disc remains
ultimately unrecommendable. … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony
No. 7 in C, Op.60, Leningrad (1941)
[73’35].
Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Milan/Oleg
Caetani.Live rec. From the Auditorium di Milano,
Italy in December 2000. DDD
ARTS 47667-2 [73’35] [CC]
The
playing is often ‘quite’ good, textures are
‘quite’ well defined, but Caetani routinely
fails to evoke an exact mood and never, never
draws the listener in. … see Full
Review
Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906 - 1975) Preludes
and Fugues (24), Op 87 (1951): 1- 9, 12, 15-17,
19 Arranged for wind quintet by Eduard Wesley
Calefax Reed Quintet: Oliver Boekhorn,
oboe; Ivar Berix, clarinet; Raaf Hekkema,
saxophone; Jelte Althuis, bass clarinet; Alban
Wesly, bassoon. Recorded 5 June 2003, at the
Evangelische Kirche, Lienen, Germany. Notes
in English, Français, Nederlands, Deutsche
Photos of the composer and of the artists.
Four page survey form. www.mdg.de
MUSIK DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG SCENE 619
1185-2 [73.53] [PSh]
A
must have for Shostakovich fans and lovers
of good wind quintet music. One hopes for
more of this ... see Full
Review
Dmitri
Shostakovich – First Recordings Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Twenty-Four
Preludes Op. 34 (1932-33) No. 8 in F minor
No. 14 in E flat minor No. 15 in D flat minor
No. 16 in B flat minor No. 17 in A flat minor
No. 18 in F minor No. 19 in E flat major No.
22 in G minor No. 23 in F major No. 24 in
D minor Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 (1922)
L’Age d’Or Op. 22 – Polka (piano reduction
1935) Piano Trio No. 2 in E Op. 67 (1944)
String Quartet No. 3 in F Op. 73 (1946) A
Collection of Children’s Pieces Op. 69
Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) David Oistrakh
(violin) and Miloš Sádlo (cello) and
Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) in the Trio The
Beethoven Quartet in the Quartet Undated [Trio
recorded 1947, Quartet ?1960]
SYMPOSIUM 1314 [79.38] [JW]
Deep
sonority … contrasting bleakness and sternness
… a sense of abstraction emerging powerfully
directed. … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Dmitri
SHOSTAKOVICH (1906
- 1975) String
Quartets 1-15 complete
Brodsky Quartet: Michael Thomas, Ian Belton
vv.; Paul Cassidy, vla.; Jacqueline Thomas,
vc. Recorded Teldec Recording Studio, Berlin,
Germany, September 1989. Notes in English,
Deutsch, Français Originally released
1991; re-released 2003
TELDEC 2564 60867 2 [378.16] [PSh]
A
very satisfactory version of these milestones
in the quartet form. … see Full
Review
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
The
Tempest Op. 109b,c (1926) [29.27] Richard
ARNELL (b.1917) Punch and the
Child Op. 49 (1948) [21.24] Lord
BERNERS (1883-1950) The Triumph
of Neptune - suite from the ballet (1926)
[24.43]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Sibelius; Arnell)
Philadelphia Orchestra (Berners) cond. Sir
Thomas Beecham rec. Nov 1954, Walthamstow
Town Hall (Sibelius); 31 May 1950, Kingsway
Hall, London; 3 Feb 1952 (Arnell); Academy
of Music, Philadelphia (Berners). all mono
SONY CLASSICAL SMK93009 [75.58] [RB]
Thirty-two
lollipops - some soporific and some belligerently
enlivening. ... see Full
Review
Nikos SKALKOTTAS
(1904-1949)
Trio
for Piano, Violin and Cello (1936) Largo (1940);
Bolero (1948); Serenata (1949); Sonatina (1949);
Tender Melody (1958) for cello and piano
Maria Kitsopoulos, cello; Maria Asteiadou,
piano; Georgios Demertzis, violin Rec. Megaron
Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, September 2000.
DDD
BIS-CD-1224 [68.15] [GH]
Brilliantly
crafted, original, highly concentrated, great
rhythmic energy and excitement … magnificent,
bringing out all aspects of this emotionally
complex music to its fullest extent. Highly
recommended … see Full
Review
Antonio SOLER (1729-1783)
Sonatas for Harpsichord, Vol. 10
Gilbert Rowland, harpsichord Recorded in July
2002 in the Epsom College Concert Hall, Surrey,
UK. DDD
NAXOS 8.557137 [73:51] [JV]
The
tenth volume of Gilbert Rowland’s recording
of Soler’s complete keyboard sonatas – a tiresome
and undifferentiated performance ... see Full
Review
Rick SOWASH
(b.1950) Chamber
Music with clarinet Anecdotes and Reflections
for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1989)
Street Suite for violin and clarinet (1976)
Daweswood; Suite for violin, clarinet, cello
and piano (1980)
Mirecourt Trio (Kenneth Goldsmith, violin;
Terry King, cello; John Jensen, piano) Craig
Olzenak (clarinet) Recorded (? 1991)
GASPARO GSCD 285 [66.52] [JW]
Sowash
has a happy knack of bringing energy and life
to his music-making, of infusing it with delight
and seemingly bringing to it his own enthusiasms
and generosity. … see
Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sir
Charles Villiers STANFORD
(1852-1924) Irish
Rhapsodies: no. 1 in D minor, op. 78 (1902),
no. 2 in F minor, op. 84 – "The Lament
for the Son of Ossian" (1903), no. 3
in D, op. 137 (1913) (1), no. 4 in A minor,
op. 141 – "The Fisherman of Lough Neagh
and What he Saw" (1913), no. 5 in G minor,
op. 147 (1917), no. 6 in D minor, op. 191
(1922) (2) Concert Variations upon an English
Theme, op. 71 – "Down among the Dead
Men" (c.1897-8) (3), Piano Concerto no.
2 in C minor, op. 126 (1911) (3)
Raphael Wallfisch (violoncello) (1), Lydia
Mordkovitch (violin) (2), Margaret Fingerhut
(piano) (3), Ulster Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Recorded August 1986 (op.147), 7-9 September
1987 (op.141), 9-10 March 1988 (op.78), 19-23
February 1989 (opp.71, 126), 22 August 1989
(op.191), 5 November 1989 (op.137), 30 April-2
May 1991 (op. 84), Ulster Hall, Belfast
CHANDOS CHAN X10116 (2) [2 CDs 77:13,
75:49] [CH]
All
lovers of late-romantic orchestral music of
nationalist inspiration should get this, above
all for the Rhapsodies. … see Full
Review
Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949)
Songs:
Waldseiligkeit, Opus 49 No. 1 (1901);
Die Nacht, Opus 10 No. 3 (1885); Ständchen,
Opus 17 No. 6 (1886); Leises Lied,
Opus 39 No. 1 (1898); Schlechtes Wetter,
Opus 69 No. 5 (1918); Des Dichters Abendgang,
Opus 47 No. 2 (1900); Der Stern, Opus
69 No. 1 (1918); Der Verschwiegenen,
Opus 10 No. 6 (1885); Die Zeitlose,
Opus 10 No. 7 (1885); Blauer Sommer,
Opus 31 No. 1 (1896); Ich wolt ein Straußlein
binden, Opus 68 No. 2 (1918); Ruhe,
meine Seele!, Opus 27 No.1 (1894); Allerseelen,
Opus 10 No. 8, (1885); Einerlei, Opus
69 No. 3 (1918); Meinem Kinde, Opus
37 No. 3 (1897); Wiegenlied, Opus 41
No. 1 (1899); Mutterländelei,
Opus 43 No. 2 (1899); Zueignung, Opus
10 No. 1 (1885); Winterweihe, Opus
48 No. 4 (1900); Das Rosenband, Opus
36 No. 1 (1897); Cäcilie, Opus
27 No. 2 (1894); Ach, was Kummer, Opus
49 No. 8 (1901); Drei Lieder der Ophelia,
Opus 67 (1915); Morgen, Opus 27 No.
4 (1894)
Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson (piano)
Recorded 18-20 February 2002, Champs Hill,
Pulborough, Sussex
ASV CD DCA 1155 [72.43] [TB]
This
is surely one of the finest lieder recitals
to have entered the catalogue in recent times
… see Full Review
Igor STRAVINSKY
(1882-1971) Suite:
Pulcinella (1922) Gian
Francesco MALIPIERO (1882-1973) Ricercari
per undici instrumenti (1925) Alfredo
CASELLA (1883-1947) Scarlattiana
(1926)
Anthony Spiri (piano) Basel Chamber Orchestra/Christopher
Hogwood Recorded March 2003, Culture and Convention
Centre, Lucerne
ARTE NOVA 74321 92765 2 [59.17] [TB]
A
really interesting programme … Pulcinella
is one of the most celebrated examples of
1920s neo-classicism so to add the Malipiero
and Casella was inspired planning. … see
Full Review
Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
Violin
Concerto (1931) Arnold
SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) Violin Concerto
(1936)
Michael Erxleben (violin) Berlin Symphony
Orchestra Michael Schønwandt (Stravinsky),
Claus Peter Flor (Schoenberg) Rec. (Stravinsky)
April 1994, (Schoenberg) June 1989 (Schoenberg),
Christuskirche, Berlin. DDD
BERLIN CLASSICS 01 8362 2BC [59.31] [TB]
A
strong soloist with a clearly articulated
personality and confident tone. … see Full
Review
Karol SZYMANOWSKI
(1882-1937) Violin
and Piano Works Violin Sonata Op. 9 (1904)
Romance Op. 23 (1910) Nocturne and Tarantella
Op. 28 (1915) Mity, trzy poematy Op. 30 (1915)
Kołysanka (La Berceuse d’Aitacho Enia)
Piotr Pławner (violin) Waldemar Malicki
(piano) Rec. Pomeranian Philharmonic Concert
Hall, Bydgoszcz, Poland, February 1997
DUX 0287 [67.48] [JW]
Inward
and introspective … finely judged portamenti
… evinces a fine silken tone with splendidly
supportive pianism. … see Full
Review
Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930
– 1996) Uninterrupted
Rests (1952, 1959)Piano Distance (1961)For
Away (1973)Les Yeux clos I (1979)Les yeux
clos II (1989)Rain Tree Sketch (1982)Rain
Tree Sketch II (1992)Litany (1990)
Izumi Tateno (piano) Recorded: Järvenpää
Hall, Järvenpää, Finland, September
1996
WARNER APEX 2564 60624-2 [56:02] [HC]
Slow-moving,
meditative, impressionistic with an undeniable
20th century harmonic touch … see
Full Review
Josef TAL
(b.1910) Symphonies
1 (1953), 2 (1960), 3 (1978), Hizayon Hagigi
(Festive Vision) (1959)
NDR Radiophilharmonie/Israel Yinon Recorded
September 2002, NDR, Grosse Sendesaal, Studio
1
CPO 999 921-2 [57:31] [CH]
Worth
getting for the very fine first symphony.
I hope you will find more in the rest than
I did. … see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23
(1874): Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
– Allegro con spirito; Andantino semplice
– Prestissimo – Tempo I; Allegro con fuoco
Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Prelude in G-flat minor, Op.23
No.10; Moment Musical in E-flat minor, Op.16
No.2; Daisies, Op.38 No.3; Prelude in G major,
Op.32 No.5; Oriental Sketch; Melodie in E
major, Op.3 No.3; Concert Paraphrase on ‘Polka
Italienne’
Arcadi Volodos (piano) Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa Rec. 06/2002 (Tchaikovsky):
Philharmonie, Berlin; 04/2003: Scoring Stage,
Berlin
SONY SICC 135 [54’19] [MM]
Dream
Team fails to deliver in Tchaikovsky: Solos
steal the show.... see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphony
No. 1 in G minor, Winter Daydreams,
Op. 13 Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Little
Russian, Op. 17 Symphony No. 3 in D, Polish,
Op. 29 Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 Symphony
No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 Symphony No. 6 in
B minor, Pathétique, Op. 74
Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32 Marche
slave, Op. 31 Fate, Op. 77 Romeo
and Juliet - fantasy overture Capriccio
Italien, Op. 45 Swan Lake - Suite
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov
Rec. 28 Feb 1991 Walthamstow Assembly Hall
(Francesca); 20, 23 July 1993 (1);
16-17 Sept 1990 (2); 9-10 June 1993 (Swan
Lake); 18-19 Feb 1991 (3 Marche);
Watford Town Hall; 11 Mar 1990 (Capriccio
Italien) EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road; 16-17
Sept 1990 (4), 18-19 Feb 1993 (Fatum);
20, 23 July 1990 (6) Watford Town Hall; 19,
22, 25 Sept 1989 (5, R&J), All
Saints Church, Tooting. DDD Previously issued
as RCA 09026 61821-2 Complete Collection series
BMG RCA RED SEAL 82876 55781 2 [6 CDs:
67.29+60.40+59.59+65.08+64.47+69.53] [RB]
Highly
personal, not bland, provocative and probably
wrong-headed on some occasions ... it will
not allow your attention to drift. … see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17, ‘Little Russian’
(1872) [35’08]. Sleeping Beauty (1889)
– Suite, Op. 66a (arr Fedoseyev) [36’43].
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow
Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev. Rec. 1999, venue
unspecified. DDD
RELIEF CR991055 [72’01] [CC]
Well
worth investigating, if not a first choice
recommendation in the symphony. … see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 3 in D, Op. 29, Polish (1875) [47’11]
Hamlet, Op. 67 (1888) [19’02]
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir
Fedoseyev. Rec. February (Op. 29), June (Op.
67) 1999, venue unspecified. DDD
RELIEF CR991050 [66’42] [CC]
Another
Fedoseyev/Relief disc with much to recommend
it. … see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840 - 1893) Symphony
#4 in f, Op. 36 (1878) [42.07]
Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Hermann Scherchen
restored from Westminster WL 096/XWN 18522
by Alessandro Nava Alban
Berg (1885 - 1935) Symphonic Suite
from "Lulu" (1934) [36.56] Annelies
Kupper, soprano Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hermann
Scherchen Rec. 20 February 1953 (Berg); June
1951 (Tchaikovsky) "registrazione di
pubblico dominio efettuate a Vienna e a Monaco"
Notes in Italiano and English.
URANIA URN 22.248 [79.10] [PSh]
Very
good sounding restorations, a must for your
Scherchen collection … see Full
Review
Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony
No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 [47:36] The Tempest:
Symphonic Fantasy to Shakespeare’s Drama,
Op. 18 [23:06]
U.S.S.R. Symphony Orchestra/Evgeni SvetlanovRecorded
1967 (Symphony 5) and 1970 (Tempest). Locations
not given. ADD
CDKM 1010 DDD [70:42] [KS]
A
passionate and soulful performance, and if
you can stand the intonation mess, you have
an exciting rendition on your hands. … see
Full
Review
Piotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Symphony
no. 6 in B minor, op. 74 – "Pathétique"
Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Tristan und Isolde: Prelude
and Liebestod
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler
Recorded October-November 1938 (Tchaikovsky),
11th February 1938 (Wagner), Berlin CD transfers
by Mark Obert-Thorn
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110865 [67:05] [CH]
[JW]
Those
who lack the back-up knowledge to read the
performances and recordings in their right
context should proceed with caution.[CH]
Furtwängler’s ability to think in terms
of paragraphs pays the richest rewards here
and is by no means a commonplace gift. … [JW]…
see Full
Review
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Peter
llyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Romeo
and Juliet – Fantasy Overture (1880) Symphony
No.6 in B minor, Op.74 ‘Pathétique’
(1893)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Guido Cantelli
Romeo and Juliet recorded 13th
October 1951, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road; Symphony
No.6 recorded 22-28th October 1952,
Royal Festival Hall. Full Price
TESTAMENT SBT 1316 [61’44] [MB]
A
mandatory purchase for anyone interested in
great conducting and great orchestral playing.
Only very rarely will you ever hear anything
as thrilling. … see Full
Review
Peter Ilyich
TCHAIKOVSKY (1840
- 1893) Variations
on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra
(1877) * Manfred Symphony, Op. 58, edited
Jordania (1885)
* Dong-Oo Lee, cello Russian Federal Orchestra/Vakhtang
Jordania Moscow 23rd September
2000. DDD
ANGELOK 1 CD 9911 [67’00"] [JPh]
I
would recommend this issue to anyone who wants
to hear the modification to the score since
in itself it is rather fun, but not if you
are wanting a top notch interpretation of
the score. … see
Full Review
BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Pyotr
Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893) Suite
from the The Nutcracker, Op.71a: Miniature
Overture; March; Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy;
Trepak; Arab Dance; Chinese Dance; Dance of
the Reeds; Flower Waltz Capriccio Italien,
Op.45 Eugene Onegin, Op.24: Waltz and
Polonaise
Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra/Alexander
Lazarev Recorded Moscow, 1992
WARNER APEX 2564 608822-2 [50:12] [JL]
This
disc freshens up some popular old Tchaikovsky
numbers with superb playing, proving that
a special, vibrant Russian orchestral sound
still lives. … see
Full Review
Georg
Philipp TELEMANN
(1681-1767) Concertos
and Chamber Music, Volume 1. Sonata
in F, TWV43:F1 [8’53].Concerto in C for Recorder,
Two Violins, Viola and Basso Continuo, TWV51:C1
[16’30]. Overture in F sharp minor, TWV55:fis
[18’45]. Quadro in G minor, TWV43:g4 [8’33].
Concerto in G for Viola Solo, Two Violins,
Viola and Basso Continuo, TWV51:G9 [12’58].
Musica Alta Ripa (Danya Segal, recorder; Anne
Röhring,Cosima Taubert, violins; Ursula
Bundies, violin/viola; Christian Heidemann,
viola; Juris Teichmanis, cello; Jacques van
der Meer, double-bass; Ulrich Wedemeier, theorbo;
Bernward Lohr, harpsichord). Rec. Oranienburg
Schloss, Nordkirchen, February 27th-28th;
March 1st-2nd, 2003.
DDD
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM GOLD MDG309 1189-2
[65’49][CC]
This
is a marvellous disc. That it is called ‘Volume
1’ should be a cause for celebration, for
that means more is sure to follow. … see Full
Review
Ernst TOCH
(1887-1946)
String
Quartet No. 7 Op. 15 [1907] String Quartet
No. 10 Op. 28 [1923] Dedication [1948]
Buchberger Quartett Rec. Westdeutscher
Rundfunk, Cologne, January/March 2001 String
Quartets Volume 4
CPO 999 775-2 [59.55] [GH]
The
Tenth Quartet is gripping throughout … almost
Bergian in it obsessive intensity … this is
my first experience of the thirteen string
quartets and I will investigate them further.
… see Full
Review
Mark Anthony
TURNAGE
(b. 1960) Scorched
(1996-2002)
John Scofield (guitar) John Patitucci
(electric bass) Peter Erskine (drums) Hr Big
Band Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Hugh
Wolff Recorded live on 7 September 2002 at
the Alter Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 729-2 [63’53]
[TH]
The
jazz/classical fusion style that Turnage has
been seeking so long, is finally found. …
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
VERDI
(1813-1901) Otello
(1884-86) Opera in four acts, libretto by
Arrigo Boito Otello – Placido Domingo
(tenor) Iago – Leo Nucci (baritone)
Desdemona – Barbara Fritolli (soprano)
Cassio – Cesare Catani (tenor) Roderigo
– Antonello Ceron (tenor)
Emilia – Rossana Rinaldi (mezzo) Lodovico
– G. Battista Parodi (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/Riccardo
Muti Stage Director – Graham Vick TV Director
– Carlo Battistoni Recorded at La Scala, Milan,
December 2001 
TDK
DVOPOTEL
[140 minutes] [TH]
It
is hard not to give this a completely unqualified
recommendation. … see Full
Review
Giuseppe VERDI
(1813-1901)
Il Trovatore (1853) - opera
in four acts.
Plus bonus tracks of Zinka Milanov singing
six traditional Yugoslav
songs (recorded 1944)
Manrico, Jussi Björling (ten). Leonora,
Zinka Milanov (sop). Di Luna, Leonard Warren
(bar). Azucena, Fedora Barbieri (mezzo). Ferrando,
Nicola Moscana (bass). Ines, Margaret Roggero
(sop). Ruiz, Paul Franke (ten) RCA Victor
Orchestra. Robert Shaw Chorale/Renato Cellini
Il Trovatore, recorded in Manhattan Center,
New York 21st February to 16th
March 1952 Bargain Price
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110240-41. [2
CDs: 62.07+72.34] [RF]
Verdi
singing of this calibre is no longer to be
heard anywhere … deserves to be in the collection
of any Verdi enthusiast or lover of great
singing. Its modest price is an added bonus
for both the affluent and the impecunious.
… see Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741) The
Four Seasons (Le Quattro Stagioni) arranged
Red Priest Arcangelo
CORELLI (1653-1713) The Christmas
Concerto (Concerto grosso in G minor Op. 6
No. 8 Fatto per la Notte di Natale arr Red
Priest
Red Priest - Piers Adams (recorders) Julia
Bishop (violin) Angela East (cello) and Howard
Beach (harpsichord) Recorded Troy Savings
Bank Music Hall, Troy, New York, January 2003
DORIAN DOR 90317 [50.33] [JW]
As
ever with Red Priest one is in for a big surprise.
… see Full
Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
The
Four Seasons [39:06] Concerto in d minor for
Viola d’amore [12:08] ‘La Notte’ - Concerto
in g minor for flute, bassoon, strings and
harpsichord [9:05] Nils Erik Sparf, baroque
violin Monica Huggett, viola d’amore Jakob
Lindberg, lute Clas Pehrsson, recorder Michael
McGraw, baroque bassoon
Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble Recorded
on June 7,9-11 1984 (Four Seasons) December
6-7 1984, Viola d’amore concerto, May 27/30
1984, Flute/Bassoon concerto in the Petrus
Church, Stocksund, Sweden DDD
BIS CD 300275 [61:45] [KS]
Specially
priced, this one is not to be missed. … see
Full Review
Antonio VIVALDI
(1678-1741)
Vivaldi in Arcadia – Concertos and Arias Concerto
for 2 violins, 2 cellos, strings and basso
continuo in G (RV 575) [10:03] Concerto for
3 violins, cello and basso continuo in D ‘La
Pastorella’ (RV 95) [10:54] Concerto for 3
violins, strings and basso continuo in F (RV
551) [09:37] Dorilla in Tempe, opera (RV 709)*:
Mi lusinga il dolce affetto, aria of Elmiro
(Act I,1) (Johann
Adolf Hasse, 1699 – 1783) [06:29]
Bel piacer saria d’un core, aria of Nomio
(Act II,7) [07:27] Rete lacci, aria of Filindo
(Act I,9) (Geminiano
Giacomelli, 1692 – 1740) [04:54]
Concerto for 4 violins, viola and basso continuo
in B flat (RV 553) [10:00] Concerto for 2
violins, strings and basso continuo in A (RV
520) [09:02] Concerto for 2 violins, 2 cellos,
strings and basso continuo in D (RV 564) [10:05]
Mhairi Lawson, soprano (*) La Serenissima:
Adrian Chandler, Matthew Truscott, Sarah Sexton,
Persephone Gibbs, Katarina Bengtson (violins),
Sarah Moffat (violin and viola), Peter Collyer,
Samantha Hutchins (viola), Gareth Deats, Sarah
McMahon (cello), Peter McCarthy (double bass),
Eligio Quintero (theorbo), Robert Howarth
(harpsichord) Rec. Sept 2003, Church of St
Mary the Virgin, Salehurst, East Sussex, England
DDD
AVIE AV0031 [79:30] [JV]
This
recording underlines the virtuoso aspects
of Vivaldi’s music at the cost of its theatrical
character ... see Full
Review.
You may sample, download
or purchase this disc
Antonio
VIVALDI (1678
- 1741) Vivaldi – Musica
Sacra Volume 4: Vespri sollenne per la festa
dell’Assunzione di Maria Vergine Reconstruction
by Frederic Delamea and Rinaldo Alessandrini.
Concerto in F major RV 584 for two violins
and two organs, Intonation: Deus in adiutorium
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina RV 593 for
soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Introduction
to Dixit Dominus: Ascende laeta RV 635 for
soprano and strings, Psalm 109 Dixit Dominus
RV 594 for soli, two choirs and two orchestras,
Antiphon: Assumpta est Maria in caelo, Antiphon:
Maria Virgo assumpta est, Psalm 112 Laudate
pueric RV 600 for soprano and orchestra, Antiphon:
Maria Virgo assumpta est, Antiphon: In odorem
unguentorum, Psalm 121 Laetatus sum RV 607
for choir and orchestra, Antiphon: In odorem
unguentorum, Antiphon: Benedicta filia tua
Domino, Psalm 126 Nisi Dominus RV 608 for
contralto and orchestra, Antiphon: Benedicta
filia tua Domino, Antiphon: Pulchra es et
decora, Psalm 147 Lauda Jerusalem RV 609 for
soli, two choirs and two orchestras, Antiphon:
Pulchra es et decora
Ave Maris Stella, Antiphon to the Magnificat,
Magnificat RV 610a for soli, two choirs and
two orchestras, Concerto in C major RV 581
for violin and strings, Salve Regina RV 616
for contralto and two orchestras
Gemma Bertagnolli (soprano) Roberta Invernizzi
(soprano) Anna Simboli (soprano) Sara Mingardo
(contralto) Gianluca Ferrarini (tenor) Matteo
Bellotto (baritone) Antonio De Decondi (violin)
Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini (director)
Recorded July 2003, Teatro Olimpico, Rome,
Italy
OPUS 111 OP 30383 [76.42+76.23] [RH]
Stunning
performances by Concerto Italiano are the
highlight of this speculative reconstruction
of a vespers service by Vivaldi. … see
Full Review
Richard WAGNER
(1813
– 1883). Die
Walküre. Acts I and II Siegmund,
Lauritz Melchior (ten); Wotan, Hans Hotter
(bar); Brünnhilde, Marta Fuchs (sop);
Sieglinde, Lotte Lehmann (sop); Hunding, Emanuel
List (bass); Fricka, Margarete Klose (mezzo).
Note: The brief passages of Wotan and Brünnhilde
in the closing scene of Act 2 are sung by
Alfred Jerger and Ella Flesch
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno Walter;
Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Bruno Seidler-Winkler
Act I recorded 20th –22nd
June 1935 in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna;
Act II recorded 22nd June 1935
in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, and 19th
and 20th September 1938 in Berlin
Bargain Price
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110250-51 [2
CDs: 73.41+70.22] [RF]
Had
this recording gone as planned it would have
been an all-time great … Nowhere in the world
is it possible to hear Wagner singing of this
quality today. … see Full
Review
Kurt WEILL
(1900-1950) The
Seven Deadly Sins (1933) Little Threepenny
Music – concert suite (1928-29)
Julia Migenes (soprano) Robert Tear and
Stuart Kale (tenors) Alan Opie (baritone)
Roderick Kennedy (bass) London Symphony Orchestra/Michael
Tilson Thomas Recorded London, April 1987
(The Seven Deadly Sins) and April 1988 (Little
Threepenny Music)
SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK90376 [55.22]
[JW]
Unalloyed
admiration – and pleasure … see
Full Review
Werner WILDE
(b.1949)
Melodies
for Christmas A Christmas Story for Orchestra;
Raise your eyes to the sky, Hosanna to the
son of David, Ave Maria, Magnificat, Silent
Night, A rose has blossomed, Honoured by God
in the heavens, You come from the stars, In
dulci jubilo, O come all ye faithful.
HAENSSLER CD 98.457 [53.30] [RB]
Light
music - inventively orchestrated and delicate
treatments of traditional Christmas melodies
... see Full
Review
Charles WILLIAMS
(1893-1978) The Music
of Charles Williams High
Adventure (Friday Night is Music Night) (c1950)
Model Railway (1951) Young Ballerina (The
Potter’s Wheel) (1951) The Bells of St Clements
(1940s) The Dream of Olwen (1947) * Cutty
Sark (1951) Nursery Clock (1933) The Night
has Eyes (1942) Devil’s Gallop (1948) Starlings
(1950) The Voice of London (1946) The Music
Lesson (1955) * Girls in Grey (TV Newsreel)
(1950) The Humming Top (1938) Destruction
by Fire (c 1940s) The Old Clockmaker (Jennings
at School) (1949) Little Tyrolean (1935) Throughout
the Years (1951) Blue Devils (1929) Jealous
Lover (The Apartment) (1949) * Rhythm on Rails
(1950) Sally Tries The Ballet (1951) Cross
Country (1954) London Fair (1955)
Roderick Elms (piano) * BBC Concert Orchestra/Barry
Wordsworth All arrangements by Charles Williams
except those by John Bell, Sidney Torch, Philip
Lane, Bobbie Field, George Zalva, Robin White,
Gavin Sutherland and Adolf Lotter – all arrangements
and reconstructions noted in the booklet Recorded
February 2003, The Colosseum, Watford
ASV WHITE LINE CD WHL 2151 [75.01] [JW]
An
expert craftsman with an unostentatious charm
that lends colour and glamour to some of these
invigorating pieces … see Full
Review
Yehudi WYNER
(b.1929) The
Second Madrigal: Voices of Women (1999) *
Quartet for Oboe and String Trio (1999) #
Horntrio (1997) +
Dominique Labelle (soprano), Daniel Steppner
(violin), Judith Eissenberg (violin), Mary
Ruth Ray (viola), Rafael Popper-Keizer (cello),
Carolyn Davis Fryer (bass), Susan Gall (flute),
Peggy Pearson (oboe), Katherine Matasy (clarinet),
Janet Underhill (bassoon), Jean Rife (horn),
Robert Schulz (percussion), Yehudi Wyner (conductor)
* Peggy Pearson (oboe), Bayla Keyes (violin),
Mary Ruth Ray (viola), Rhonda Rider (cello)
# James Buswell (violin), Jean Rife (horn),
Yehudi Wyner (piano) + Recorded at Mechanics
Hall, Worcester, MA and The Studio, Roslindale
MA, December 2000-May 2002
BRIDGE 9134 [67.41] [JW]
Wyner’s
is an imaginative voice in contemporary American
composition and this is a fine slice of his
creativity. … see Full
Review
Alexander
ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942)
Die Seejungfrau (1902-3) [38.51]
Symphony in D minor (1892-93) [31.31]
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Antony Beaumont
rec. Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague,
12-14, 22-23 Mar 2003. DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10138 [70.23] [RB]
Smiles
and magical opulence ... see Full
Review
Anton ZIMMERMANN
(?1741-1781)
String
Quartets, Op. 3 – No. 1 in E flat [24’09];
No. 2 in B [22’30]; No. 3 in F [21’05].
Musica Aeterna Soloists (Peter Zajíček,
Milos Valent, violins; Ján Gréner, viola;
Peter Királ, cello). Rec. Gothic Church of
Liptovská Osada on May 28th-30th,
1994. DDD
NAXOS 8.553952 [67’44]
A
very enjoyable disc. The music will not stretch
the intellect too far, neither will it move
the emotions to extremes. Eminently well-crafted
music, expertly performed, equally expertly
recorded. … see Full
Review
Detailed listing
(last two days)]
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]
[Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]
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